Michael Owen identifies ‘brilliant’ replacement for Mo Salah as Liverpool star’s contract saga rumbles on
- Mo Salah is in the final six months of his contract and is free to talk to foreign clubs
- Salah would be difficult to replace, but Michael Owen believes he knows the right man
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! Is Everton where they need to be or are the club’s fans delusional?
Michael Owen has identified who Liverpool should sign as Mo Salah’s replacement if the Egyptian star leaves Anfield this summer.
Salah is in the last six months of his contract and has been free to talk to foreign clubs since the beginning of this month.
The saga has not hampered the 32-year-old’s form as he has registered 21 goals and 17 assists so far this season, rocketing Liverpool to the top of both the Premier League and Champions League.
Should Liverpool let their all-time top scorer in the Premier League leave this summer, any replacement would have big shoes to fill.
But Owen, who has scored 118 Premier League goals for the club, believes he has found a man capable of doing so.
Antoine Semenyo has been in good form for Bournemouth this season, scoring seven goals, including a goal against Chelsea on Tuesday night which caught Owen’s attention.
Antoine Semenyo scores his seventh goal of the season against Chelsea on Tuesday evening
Michael Owen believes Semenyo has what it takes to step into Mo Salah’s shoes at Anfield
Mo Salah is in the final six months of his contract and is free to talk to foreign clubs
“He’s a brilliant player,” Owen said Premier League productions.
“He is scoring goals and we don’t know if Mohamed Salah will stay or leave, but if he does leave, Semenyo should be his replacement.”
Owen’s comments do not come out of the blue as the Ghanaian striker was linked with a move to Anfield earlier this week.
The Northern Echo reported that Liverpool’s Ben Doak – currently on loan at Middlesbrough – could be used as part of a package to bring Semenyo to Anfield, with Bournemouth reportedly eyeing the 19-year-old.
Semenyo joined Bournemouth for £10.25 million from Bristol City in January 2023 and has since scored 16 goals for the Cherries.
Liverpool’s search for a striker has expanded with their long-term target, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush, set to join rivals Manchester City on a £67m contract.
Of more immediate importance for manager Arne Slot will be reversing a mini-slump that has seen his side win just one of their last four games, including Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Next up for Liverpool is a tricky trip to Brentford on Saturday before their attention turns to the Champions League, where they host Lille on Tuesday evening.